The role of Zen is neither to stand above life nor to run away from it, but to face it with a spirit of determination.

Mindfulness means keeping one's consciousness alive to the present reality.

Faith is not a commodity that you either have or don't have - it is an inner quality that unfolds as we learn to trust our own deepest experience.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be miserable, expect something in return.

The practice of vipassana is the study of the self. When you study physical and mental phenomena, you are studying the truth about yourself.

The more we witness our emotional reactions and understand how they work, the easier it is to refrain.

Everybody has the light of Buddha within, but they don't look for it.

Sankharas are the seeds of consciousness that manifest as sensations. By observing sensations equanimously, we stop creating new sankharas.

The yogi's joy is in the solitude of mountains, where all distractions naturally dissolve into emptiness.

The path of insight is a path of discovery, not a path of creation. We are discovering what is already there.

Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is awakened.

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.

Our own life has to be our message.

Each breath is a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to awaken.

The person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and no aversion, has no conceptual imprints.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

The cave I live in is empty and so is my mind. I live simply and at ease.

Though the view should be as vast as the sky, keep your conduct as fine as barley flour.

The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.

The root of all mind is your own present pure awareness. Rest in that essence without seeking elsewhere.

The past is for learning from, not for living in.

The water in the ocean can be rough or calm. It can be clear or murky. But the water itself doesn't mind.

Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled. Look within, be still.

The quality of every moment depends on the state of our minds.

The source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person's suffering and bring that person joy.

The practice of metta begins with oneself, for only when we have developed loving-kindness towards ourselves can we truly offer it to others.

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.

Happiness is not the pursuit of an endless succession of experiences but an attitude toward life.

A pure mind is always full of love - real love for all others.

The Buddha's path is not about becoming somebody different but about becoming more and more who you really are.